Standard outclass FCK with second-half flurry

Second-half strikes from Luis Manuel Seijas, Felipe and Kanu saw R. Standard de Liège get the better of FC København and earn their first UEFA Europa League Group B victory.

The 2011 Belgian Cup winners ended up deservedly on top, but few would have envisaged that at the interval, after a flat first half in which neither side established either fluency or supremacy, despite the best efforts of Franck Berrier, Standard's architect-in-chief.

Leye Mbaye set the early tone for Standard with a wild shot over the bar on three minutes, while César Santin dragged a limp effort wide at the other end after being played in by the combative Christian Grindheim.

A 30-metre shot from Felipe's fellow centre-back Kanu compelled Johan Wiland into his first save of the match, while Standard's Sinan Bolat was also untroubled until forced to stop a Sölvi Ottesen header from Pierre Bengtsson's free-kick.

Maor Buzaglo did drift in from the right to curl a shot over from 20 metres, but chances were at a premium until the second half, when substitute Mohamed Tchite's pace brought fresh impetus to José Riga's side.

After Jelle Van Damme headed just over from a wonderful Berrier cross, Standard took the lead through Seijas, the Venezuelan midfielder striking a half-cleared ball through a crowded area and in off the far post. Standard continued to throw men forward and after Van Damme forced another corner, Felipe, lingering at the back post, lashed the ball in off the bar from a narrow angle.

The visitors simply had no answer to their opponents' vast improvement, and within seven minutes they conceded again, their defence rooted to the spot as Kanu rose highest to power a header past Wiland. The victory takes Standard joint top of the section, a point above tonight's wounded Danish Lions.